Grandson Dominic’s JV high school team “kicked ass” last night. Something like a 44-3 victory. It must have been his Dad’s coaching. Yeah, right.
Joining the football exploits was Dominic’s younger brother Tommy. Tommy also plays on the defensive line. On Saturday his Youth football team “kicked off” the season. Quote “Tommy was clearly the best defensive player on his team”. Twice he “came off the edge to sack the quarterback”. Way to go Tommy!
We all have “firsts” in our life that remain vivid in our minds. I can remember my first grade school “crush”. I remember first dating your Mom. I remember the “first” child born to our family (Grasshopper No.1) along with the birth of each and every Grasshopper. You get the idea! We all have things in our mind that will be with us forever and will remain our first experience ever.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I played guard on the JV basketball team (where else does a 5’10 person play?). Late in the game our team was trailing by one point with seconds left on the clock. I stole the basketball on an inbound play. I turned toward the basket and shot from about 15 feet and as the horn sounded, the basketball swished through the net. We had won by one point at the buzzer. That was my first game winning shot (and the last as it turns out). I can still see the ball ripping through the net. It is a vivid first time memory.
Where am I going with this? Grandson Mitchell who plays defensive end for a very good JV football team in Madison has been “on fire”. Deflected passes. Sacked quarterbacks. Recovered fumbles. Mitchell also plays tight end on offense on a “platoon basis”. He and another team-mate alternate plays. Saturday, Mitchell’s team won and continued undefeated. Mitchell caught his “first” pass for a touchdown. That doesn’t seem like a big deal but I guarantee you that Mitchell will remember that pass, that catch and that touchdown for the rest of his life. It will remain a precious first memory. Enjoy Mitchell. You did it all by yourself.
My list of first is long and vivid. I remember the first kiss!
I remember buying my first car.
How about my first “brand new car”. It was a 1965 dark blue with contrasting light blue interior Chevrolet Bel-Air. I think the engine was a powerful 283 cube V-8 with a stick shift and an AM radio. You can’t polish a brand new car enough. It remains a classic.
I remember our first family cottage. It was a rustic building, kind of musty but it was ours.
I remember being told I needed open heart quadruple by-pass surgery to safe my life. I can’t imagine why I will always remember that event as a first!
What is your most vivid “first”?
Love,
Dad